It is expected that the Republican majority in the House of Representatives will shrink again in time for a potential government shutdown, now just three weeks away. This comes as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced that ten more retiring House Republicans have left him with a smaller majority of 223-211. This latest news comes shortly after Democrats flipped the House majority in the November midterms by flipping 41 seats. This smaller majority will make any votes to avert a government shutdown much more difficult for Republicans, as the margin between Democrats and Republicans will be much closer. With Democrats in control of the House, it becomes increasingly unlikely that Republican negotiators will be able to push through a budget that includes additional funding for President Trump’s border wall. Negotiations will still need to take place between the White House and Congressional Democrats, but with fewer Republican votes in the House, Democrats may have an easier time of blocking any spending bills that include additional funding for the wall.
